Tag Archives: university in payson

Appraiser put the price of the 253 acre forest site for a planned university in Payson at $4.1 million, well below expectations, putting the plan for a university in Payson one step closer.

With the appraisal complete, backers of the university plan to meet with Arizona State University representatives to share the results of an analysis of the cost of building the university on each of proposed sites.

The proposed sites including the 253 acre forest service site near the Payson Ranger Station, a site across the highway next to Gila Community College, a +/- 80 acre site along Tyler Parkway and a +/- 113 acre site on the Payson Golf Course.

The Forest Service site and the golf course site remain the two most seriously considered alternatives, and with the appraisal for the Forest Service location coming in well below expectations the price tags for the land are now similar.

While the Forest Service site would still likely have higher building costs due to the terrain and the need to extend utilities, the golf course site has potentially flood control and drainage problems in addition to neighborhood opposition.

A 4 year University in Payson would definitely have an impact on Payson and the surrounding Rim Country as it would bring in new industry, people and jobs.

I believe a university would bring vitality to the town of Payson, bring in young people, give the young people of this community more opportunies.

The development of new commercial businesses and housing will bring more jobs to our community and give the community a jump start.

Other potential benefits would include expansion of bike trails and alternative transportation; enhanced cultural opportunities available to the residents of Payson and the Rim Country, expansion of retail, restaurants and other services offered in our community.

If you too are considering opening or relocating a business to Payson, let me know how I can help you with your commercial real estate needs.

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The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of Richard D Chapin, PLLC as of the date of publication and are subject to change, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Arizona Elite Commercial and/or its affiliates.

This information is for informational purpose and not intended to be investment advice, and should be explained to you in detail. You should always seek legal and/or tax advice to obtain further information you deem necessary. I want you to be prepared.

A university in Payson is one step closer to reality, as another hurdle is cleared.

Neil Bosworth, Tonto National Forest Supervisor, signed off on the environmental assessment for the sale of 253 acres to build a university in Payson, this week.

While consultants found no problems with endangered species or other hot-button issues, they did find suspected pottery shards in 11 locations and signs of an encampment in one of those locations. No evidence of a major village or site was found. The most significant potential site sits on a ridge near a cluster of boulders where the backers didn’t plan to build anything

Federal rules relating to historical sites prompted the Forest Service to insist on more study and a commitment to preserve any artifacts unearthed. The Alliance is putting up a $500,000 bond to guarantee completion of the archaeological work no matter what the consultants find and no matter what happens to the overall university plan.

It was reported in the Payson Round Up that sources close to the negotiations say ASU and Alliance representatives have had recent discussions, but not yet reopened formal negotiations.

Bosworth’s signature this week, guarantees the Alliance will get the land and satisfies one of the key conditions ASU set before committing to partner with the Alliance to build and operate a 6,000-student university in Payson.

Studies of the economic impact of the planned university in Payson, suggest that the campus alone will inject $100 million to $150 million into the local economy annually, much of the impact being in the normally slow winter months that are absent the summer tourism boost from the valley residents escaping the heat of the valley to the south.

The project will also include a 500-room conference hotel, industrial research parks, an innovation center to convert research into products, an upgrade in Internet capacity that will make the entire town a Wi-Fi hot spot.

Let me know how I can help you with your commercial property needs!

First Name: Last Name: Organization: Title: Work Email: Work Phone: Additional background information:

This information is for informational purpose and not intended to be investment advice, and should be explained to you in detail. You should always feel free to consult an attorney and/or tax adviser to obtain further information you deem necessary. I want you to be prepared.

A university in Payson, would not only become a major source for employment, but with most of the students will coming from outside the immediate area the commercial market, including multi-family, should benefit as well.

This plan to build a 6,000-student university, a 500-room hotel, a incubation center, a solar chip assembly plant, a research park and dorms in Payson will impact the the entire region, not the least of which will have a huge impact on commercial property in the Payson area.

Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth said last Thursday, “That Tonto National Forest has settled nearly all of the remaining questions to sell 253 acres for a university campus in Payson and expects to transfer title to the Rim Country Educational Alliance by January.”

Concluding the land sale guarantees the project will go forward. While Arizona State University remains the preferred partner, the Alliance and ASU have to revisit the terms they mostly agreed on late last year, if those talks once again falter, five other universities have expressed interest in operating a campus in Payson.

Payson Mayor Kenny Evans, “predicted construction on the site will start early next year and the first 600 students will enroll in 2015, starting with 600 students in 2015 and building up to 6,000 students in the course of the next decade”, he went on to say, “the gradual buildup will provide time for Payson to develop a workforce that could support such a major, year-round business. The university would have more than twice as many students as the Payson School District, which is currently the biggest employer in town.”

The university campus would likely offer six undergraduate degrees, Two will focus on degrees, like forest management, solar energy. Two will involve education. Two will involve more general education.

The university site should give the opportunity to have 4,000 students living on campus, with the remaining 2,000 students at university build-out living in the community. With an expected 90 percent of the students will coming from outside the immediate area the multifamily commercial market should benefit as well.

This information is for informational purpose and not intended to be investment advice, and should be explained to you in detail. You should always feel free to consult an attorney and/or tax adviser to obtain further information you deem necessary. I want you to be prepared.

This plan to build a 6,000-student university in Payson, a 500-room hotel, a incubation center, a solar chip assembly plant, a research park and dorms in this cool mountain town of 15,000 will be huge for Payson, Star Valley as well as the rest of the Rim Country.

The Rim Country Educational Alliance, an Entity set up by the towns of Payson and Star Valley, is purchasing the 260 acre site from the Forest Service. The Alliance will actually build the campus and own the facilities and then lease the facilities to the university and to other related businesses. The plan calls for tuition 30 to 50 percent lower than the three existing public universities in the state, ensuring a ready supply of students.

The Alliance plans to build a creative, state-of-the-art campus that will turn the whole town into a high-speed, wireless Internet site. The campus will offer key areas of study will include nursing, business, rural health care, forest health, alternative energy, education and fire science.

In terms of environmental concerns. The campus design firm will create a forested campus designed for walking and biking. The designers will match the layout to the purpose of the campus, and create a sense of community blended with nature.

Additionally, plans call for the campus to rely on solar and geothermal power, advanced energy-efficient design and materials that will make the campus itself a sustainability showcase.

Ultimately the project will inject $150 million annually into the economy and transform the amenities, demographics and housing market of a rural town long dependent on summer tourism and second-home owners.

This information is for informational purpose and not intended to be investment advice, and should be explained to you in detail. You should always feel free to consult an attorney and/or tax adviser to obtain further information you deem necessary. I want you to be prepared.